Potato stocks – and sales – rising

Potato growers received both good and bad news this week with the arrival of the latest stock statistics.

For those with sheds full of spuds, the bad news is that stock levels reached a record 2.4 million tonnes in January.

This, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), is 25 per cent up on last year.

However, the more positive information for those still with lots of last year’s crop still to market is the rate at which they were being drawn down from store was also at its highest level since 2010

Peter Collier, analyst at AHDB said: “Retail sales of fresh potatoes were up 3.6 per cent in the three month period to the end of January, as measured by Kantar Worldpanel. While this is good news, it does not entirely explain the increase in drawdown rate.

“Another factor is a greater level of grade outs in this year’s crop. With quality reported as reduced in 2017-18, there has been an increased tonnage requirement to meet specifications, as seen by reports of a higher ‘out grade’ percentage than usual.”

AHDB believes there is a chance brought about by the late spring that despite record stock levels, the market could still “tighten” as the season progresses.

Collier said: “The delayed, wet start to 2018 planting could see this marketing season extended, causing a tightening of supplies before the new crop is lifted.”

He recommended growers kept an eye on Potato Data Centre, or on the newsletter Potato Weekly for more information as conditions could change quite quickly.